Your Right to Know

The coalition of organizations pushing for a new system of drawing legislative and congressional
districts turned in 450,533 signatures yesterday, putting it another step toward getting on the
November ballot but likely leaving more work to do.

Voters First needs nearly 386,000 valid signatures of registered Ohio voters to make the ballot,
and the group can continue to gather names while county elections boards certify the ones already
submitted. If two-thirds of the group’s signatures are valid — generally a decent rate for a
signature-collection effort — the group would still need at least 100,000 more names.

The coalition, which includes the League of Women Voters and advocacy groups, along with a
variety of Democrats and labor unions, is confident that its team of volunteers and paid petition
circulators will fill plenty of petitions.

“We are getting this done,” said Catherine Turcer, chairwoman of Voters First.

Under the current system, the majority party gerrymanders districts to protect incumbents and
try to give itself a decade-long advantage. Most of the process is conducted in secret.

Under the proposal, maps would be drawn by new panel of four Democrats, four Republicans and
four independents chosen through a multistep process. Elected officials, legislative branch
employees, lobbyists and major political donors would be barred from selection.

If passed, new maps would be drawn for 2014.

Republicans who drew the latest maps have sharply criticized the proposal, and some see the
coalition as little more than a Democratic-affiliated group trying to change maps they don’t like
and drive turnout in November.

The Ohio Republican Party yesterday released a hidden-camera video that appeared to show a
signature collector saying it was OK for a person to sign for his brother.“

A number of Ohioans are concerned with the redistricting amendment now being proposed in Ohio
and find serious flaws in its provisions,” said Republican Party spokeswoman Izzy Santa.Voters
First leaders say they expect the majority party to fight change. “They’re the folks who like
gerrymandering and having control of the pen,” Turcer said.

Legislative leaders have expressed some interest in crafting a new map-drawing process, but
progress has been slow.

“We sat (at the Statehouse) for the last six years while they came up with nothing,” said Ann
Henkener of the League of Women Voters of Ohio. “They had their chance.”